Sixty million rides and counting

Passengers used Twin Cities transit 60 million times for the first nine months of this year. Metro Transit officials say that’s a four percent increase from the year before. Bus riders drove the increase.

Passengers used Twin Cities transit 60 million times for the first nine months of this year. Metro Transit officials say that’s a four percent increase from the year before. Bus riders drove the increase.

Metro Transit says it provided more than 80 million rides last year. The 3.5 percent increase over 2010 was due to more bus riders. Passengers on light rail and commuter trains were slightly fewer than the year before.

The Stratosphere swing ride, which has malfunctioned several times this year at the Minnesota State Fair, was shut down again Wednesday night, fair officials said. Guests were let off the ride and it was tested without riders, WCCO reported. Operators are now changing out a part as a safety precaution. Late Wednesday, it was not clear when the ride would reopen.

A 3M executive says the $50 million investment is part of a "five-year strategy for China to increase annual sales 15 to 20 percent." The Maplewood-based manufacturer plans to develop new technology and products for the China market -- 3M's biggest overseas market.

James Ober was charged with racketeering in the case that involved more than 60 homes around Minnesota over the last several years, the Hudson Star Observer is reporting. The scheme involved finding fake buyers for homes.